Travel guide: Celebration of August 15th holiday (Dekapentavgoustos) across Greece
Greekcitytimes.com notes in the following recent article that "if you are looking for the liveliest time to be in Greece, Dekapentavgoustos (August 15th) should definitely be on top of your list. Marking the Assumption of the Virgin Mary — one of the largest religious celebrations in the country— this period also hosts some of the greatest Panigiria (festivals).
Greeks from Athens, Thessaloniki and all the main cities travel to their island homes and villages to mark this day of non-stop celebration. Every region has its own traditions but overall the day is held in honour of Panagia- who is cherished and respected, and asked to perform miracles on people of all ages.
On this day, each town’s icon of the Virgin is often adorned with flowers and ribbons and carried around the island or village so that the faithful may touch it. The formal religious ceremony is held during the day, with mass and prayers in the morning and in the evening focus shifts to food, wine song and dance.
Panigiria are set in town squares or next to a celebrating church, with each festivity including tables of guests who partake in the local revelry. Each village serves up their local wine and delicacies to the sounds of live bands, which have most locals up and dancing from the time they arrive.
The essence of this celebration is that “all are welcome” and treated like family- participating body and soul in the commemoration.
What is 100 percent certain is that wherever you are in Greece on this national holiday- be it an island, village, city or remote town- there will be a Panigiri somewhere nearby. We take a look at some of the best places to be in Greece for Dekapentavgoustos.
Siatista
In Siatista, in the northern Greek region of Kozani, the local men ride their adorned horses up to the Monastery of the Koimissis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Virgin). The horsemen train their animals for weeks before this event and on the eve of the feast, the town gather groups of horsemen, who lure local people and guests to the feast. On the day of the Assumption, the riders start out in the morning to worship the image of the Virgin Mary Monastery located in Mikrokastro. Afterwards the groups of riders come with their horses into Siatista to the square of hora and put on a display of their skills in the town’s main square. The celebrations continue until early morning.
Veria
Preserving their traditions, the Pontians of Soumela in Veria don full costume on the their annual pilgrimage to Panagia Soumela Monastery on August 15. Thousands of believers from all over Greece and abroad flock each year to attend the events that take place in Panagia Soumela, the historic church located on the slopes of Vermion, near the village Kastania. The church was built in 1951 by refugees from Pontos, in memory of the historical monastery, the ruins of which are located on Mount Mela, near Trabzon in the Black Sea. Here exists the miraculous image of Panagia, crafted by Evangelist Luke. On Assumption Day, the procession of the holy icon of the Virgin Mary is followed by many believers. On top of this great festival of Christendom, Pontian bands from Macedonia offer unique moments with traditional tunes and a long lasting celebration.
Zagoria
Zagoria is famous for its Dekapentavgoustos feasts and in villages such as Vitsa and Tsepelovo, the commemoration of the Assumption lasts three days and features an abundance of traditional cuisine with a serving of continental dances. The third and last day is celebrated with non- stop local Epirot musicians and dances.
Paros
Panagia Ekatontapyliani is one of the most worshipped churches in the Aegean and is located in the capital of Paros. Believers from all over Greece gather here in mid-August to take part in the festivities. After the procession of the epitaph, begins the great festival of the people, partying until the early hours, with traditional music, and local wine and delicacies. In the port of Naoussa, boats approach the pier with lit torches and reveals the arrival of pirates who start the festival with traditional island dances.
Syros
On August 15, most of Syros’ islanders gather at the island’s numerous ports, hopping on the fishermens’ boats for a free ride at sea. All they have to do in exchange is to help set off all the fireworks rocketing from these boats and lighting the sky throughout the process. As it’s a religious festival, one of the boats carries a big icon of Panagia. That is when the party begins. The fishermen drive their boats back to the ports to drop off the passengers, who taste some of the delicious “kakavia” – fishermans soup made by the locals – and some free local drinks. The night of course ends with plenty of live music and dancing.
Tinos
This special island has been linked with religious festivities for decades, with the Church of Panagia Evangelistria on Tinos’ main port drawing thousands of pilgrims from around the world each year. On August 15, Tinos also commemorates the sinking of the warship Elli in 1940 by Italian torpedoes off the island’s coast, an event that effectively brought Greece into the Second World War. Assumption Day is considered the best day to visit this island and each year visitors start a long journey to Tinos, to pay a visit to the church and experience some of the extraordinary blessings and celebrations.
Chania
Chania is located in Crete- the largest of the Greek islands and the locals celebrate Assumption Day in their own Cretan way, with certain villages offering free food and wine and non-stop Cretan music all day. Expect to hear lots of Mandinades (Cretan folklore music) and celebratory gunshots, which creates a very festive atmosphere and dynamic vibe.
Ikaria
Ikaria boasts authentic local celebrations of the Virgin Mary’s day in Greece, attracting hundreds of travellers who enjoy more of a traditional festival. It gives international guests the opportunity to mingle with the locals surrounded by stunning village surroundings, traditional food, live music, non-stop dancing, and plenty of local wine.
Serifos
Dekapentavgousots in Serifos is where young men get into fist fights to win the attention of young women. According to old wives tales, the man who comes out triumphant and gets to dance with his girl under the old olive tree is going to be next to wed. Today this custom is performed just for fun but the festival is still one of the most important dates of the islands calendar- as most inhabitants come back every year to catch up and dance for three days straight."
Read full story here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: An. Antoniou License: CC-BY-SA
Source: greekcitytimes.com
- 1) Ticket price of 2 euros for cinema festival throughout Greece on October 31
- 2) Stavros Niarchos Foundation recognized at 2024 International Opera Awards
- 3) United Hellenic Voters of America presents 50th UHVA Awards Gala in Illinois
- 4) Hellenic Initiative’s 5th Annual Venture Impact Awards opens for applications
22/10 21:48
IMF expects Greek economy to grow by 2.3% in 2024 and 2% during 2025
22/10 21:46
Minister: Ticket prices for new Thessaloniki metro to be announced shortly
22/10 21:37
Greek Shipping Minister: A new 'maritime' Egnatia will open up new prospects
22/10 21:31
Transport Minister visits FlyOver project site in Greek city of Thessaloniki
22/10 21:25
Increased tourist traffic in Greece during the period January-August 2024
21/10 21:23
Prime Minister: Greece's economy on irreversible path to recovery
21/10 19:19
Greek FinMin: Plan to utilize Hellenic Public Properties at implementation phase
21/10 18:00
21/10 09:16
European Union Commissioner inaugurates creation of 'Trusted Investors Network'
18/10 23:09
Exhibition of ancient cultures from Basilicata opens at Athens Acropolis Museum
17/10 19:13
Enterprise Greece: 121 firms showcase environmentally friendly fashion at global shows
17/10 18:18
Ticket price of 2 euros for cinema festival throughout Greece on October 31
17/10 14:34
Prime Minister: Greece has been very effective in dealing with illegal migration
17/10 13:22
Traditional Greek Costumes show:“From Avgi to the present: the clothes narrate”
17/10 12:21
16/10 22:23
Greek Development Minister meets Indiana Governor and US Ambassador
16/10 22:15
Greek PM sees overtourism problem only in Mykonos and Santorini
16/10 22:10
16/10 21:59
Greek Cartoon Museum at 'Kapnergostasio' historic building set up in Athens
16/10 19:12
Aegean Airlines expands direct flights between Thessaloniki and Kalamata in Greece
15/10 21:19
Greek PM: Our goal is to increase revenues and not just tourist numbers
15/10 19:46
Greek Energy Minister holds talks in Egypt on electricity connection
15/10 19:26
15/10 18:34
New Attica Transportation Strategic Plan will reshape the Region
15/10 16:44
UK Ambassador to Athens: Greece's role is of strategic significance
15/10 15:49
Greece's finance ministry reveals four main changes introduced by new tax bill
14/10 23:04
Minister: Luxury tourism can upgrade quality of Greek tourist product
14/10 13:01
Greek Infrastructure and Transport Minister: 35 new buses in Attica
14/10 12:54
WTTC | Business travel to surpass pre-pandemic levels at US$1.5 trillion in 2024
14/10 11:48
11/10 22:39
Acropolis Museum to mark European Days of Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage
09/10 23:26
Minister: More than 2,000 Greeks abroad registered on Rebrain Greece Platform
09/10 23:23
Italgas to invest 1 bln euros in Greece by 2030 based on new strategic plan
09/10 23:22
FinMin: The upgrade of the Athens Stock Exchange is excellent news for Greece
09/10 20:14
Fraport Greece announces schedule of shutdowns to upgrade regional airport runways
09/10 17:30
Greek government spokesperson highlights positive economic outlook for 2025
09/10 01:43
October electricity bill subsidies to support vulnerable consumers in Greece
09/10 01:41
Enterprise Greece: Four Greek wineries at ProWine Latin America 2024
09/10 01:31
Three-week deadline for Greek taxi drivers to install payment card signage
08/10 18:22
AEGEAN air passenger traffic surpasses 12.5 million in first nine months of 2024
08/10 16:31
Report: Networking and career opportunities for foreign students in Cyprus and Greece
07/10 21:54
Media: U.S. Ambassador to Athens is a Champion of Study Abroad Endeavors
07/10 21:44
Universities of Tennessee and Athens to promote academic collaboration
07/10 20:36
07/10 15:49
Government: Bad loans in Greece fell to 7.5% in March 2024 from 40% in 2019
06/10 00:40
03/10 22:15
Commercial activity at Keramoti port in Greece suspended to alleviate congestion
03/10 22:08
Finance Minister: Record privatizations benefiting Greek citizens in long run
03/10 22:05
Stavros Niarchos Foundation recognized at 2024 International Opera Awards
03/10 22:04
Commercial operation of the Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal beginning today
03/10 16:48
Virtuoso and Globetrender report: The top-7 luxury travel trends to watch in 2025
02/10 23:11
Green residential electricity tariffs down 6%-17% in Greece during October
02/10 23:04
United Hellenic Voters of America presents 50th UHVA Awards Gala in Illinois
02/10 21:46
02/10 18:59
Greek FM: Excellent collaboration with Egypt for investments beyond energy
02/10 10:15
ELSTAT report: Unemployment rate falls to 9.5% in Greece during August
01/10 21:32
Collaboration between University of Athens and Google in Αrtificial Intelligence
01/10 21:31
Prime Minister: Greece will finally have a land registry in 2025
01/10 19:14
Work to prepare unique Doxipara-Zoni burials museum for visitors progressing fast
01/10 18:25
Public Power Corporation announces lower kWh green rates in Greece for October
01/10 17:35
Ministers agree to strengthen cooperation between Greek and Turkish coast guards
01/10 12:01
30/09 21:28
Piraeus Port Authority reaches new highs in half-year revenues and profits
30/09 17:12
Minister: Greece has the highest rate of increase of available income
29/09 21:29
Ratification bill for Attiki Odos concession is tabled in Greek Parliament
28/09 21:19
28/09 20:54
Lykeion ton Ellinidon Costume Museum marks European Heritage Days
26/09 22:02
Greece and South Korea sign cultural collaboration memorandum
26/09 21:55
Hellenic Initiative’s 5th Annual Venture Impact Awards opens for applications
26/09 19:51
26/09 18:58
Greece and Georgia ink agreement for mutual driver license recognition
26/09 18:47
Greece ranked 2nd internationally in best practices for Public-Private Partnerships
25/09 21:37
11 Greek environmental groups join 'Alliance for Wildlife' to preserve biodiversity
25/09 21:32
5th KinoFest: German-language film festival held at Castro Clauss in Patras
25/09 19:27
Greek Finance Ministry: Data shows significant fall in non-performing loans
25/09 17:45
Climate Crisis Minister inks procurement for 414 new fire vehicles in Greece
23/09 00:17
WTTC: U.S. remains the world’s most powerful travel and tourism market
23/09 00:05
New rail projects amounting to 1.0 billion planned in northern Greece
22/09 23:57
Minister: Promoting organic farming a priority for the Greek government
22/09 23:52
President of Hellenic Republic visits Panagia Soumela Monastery in Imathia
22/09 23:41
New framework for photovoltaics replaces net metering with net billing in Greece
19/09 21:13
Temple of Poseidon in Sounion of Attica shines bright with brand new lighting system
17/09 12:34
16/09 22:48
Revenues €2 billion above target primary surplus of €7.571 billion in Greece
16/09 22:35
Moody's ratings upgrades Greece's outlook to positive from stable
16/09 22:19
Passenger traffic in Greek ports grew by 11.4 pct during 2024 Q1
16/09 14:25
16/09 13:04
10 Years of Celebration for Golf and Maritime at the Greek Maritime Golf Event
14/09 22:38
11/09 22:35
Digital Work Card to start in Greek tourism and food service sectors
11/09 21:27
AEGEAN Air: Strong passenger traffic growth and 10% increase in revenue
11/09 16:43
Joint initiative in EU by Greece, Romania and Bulgaria on energy prices
11/09 13:39
Minister: Free afternoon surgeries for citizens who cannot afford to pay
10/09 00:49
12 tax cuts and 12 measures for wage rises announced in Greece
09/09 23:36
Foreign Minister: Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection approved by EU
09/09 23:35
Security forces on high alert for potential flooding from "ATENA" storm in Greece
09/09 23:07
Media: Greece will levy tax on cruise ship arrivals to Mykonos and Santorini
09/09 22:43
09/09 22:02
Swimming ban lifted at Volos beaches following clean water test results
08/09 22:31
IMF expects Greek economy to grow by 2.3% in 2024 and 2% during 2025
Greek Shipping Minister: A new 'maritime' Egnatia will open up new prospects
Increased tourist traffic in Greece during the period January-August 2024
Transport Minister visits FlyOver project site in Greek city of Thessaloniki
Minister: Ticket prices for new Thessaloniki metro to be announced shortly
European Union Commissioner inaugurates creation of 'Trusted Investors Network'
Greek FinMin: Plan to utilize Hellenic Public Properties at implementation phase
Exhibition of ancient cultures from Basilicata opens at Athens Acropolis Museum
Prime Minister: Greece's economy on irreversible path to recovery
Enterprise Greece: 121 firms showcase environmentally friendly fashion at global shows
Golf & Maritime for a Good Cause at the 10th Greek Maritime Golf Event
First Ramada by Wyndham Hotel in Fethiye opens in Ölüdeniz of Turkey
Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters
Greek supermarkets record rise in value and decline in volume of FMCG sales
Six investment schemes selected for Phase B, in bid for Greek port of Lavrion
Support the Greek Heritage Night organized at Yankee Stadium in New York
PM at Axia discussion: Greece offering great investment opportunities in 2023
New publication: 'I am not Maria - I am Callas: Her real life and an eon of myths'
Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation presents lecture with US University President
Greek Tourism Minister: Passenger location form to be abolished in Greece as of March 15
UK Ambassador to Athens: Greece's role is of strategic significance
German ambassador: 'To live and work in Greece has always been my dream'